Trade school at your local community college, they need you as much as you need them.
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I agree with @Trowertripper and @Tolerance_Break, it’s difficult to go wrong with a union trade’s job. A relatively short paid apprenticeship ending with the possibility of well paid regular work has a lot going for it. I say ‘the possibility of’ because it’s up to the individual to make it happen by being up to the work. That said, however, it can lead to a rewarding career.
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This is some of the best advice.
If I could go back and do it all again… union electrician. 100%
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A few days back I had a family ask me how i managed to get qualified as a roofer as her son was looking for a profession. I told her the truth and said for him to avoid it.
I’m uk and if I could change my choice this late on I’d have chose plumbing. More so working with gas. Gas fitters make serious money. I’ve seen in the past Bank Managers have left their jobs and trained to be plumbers.
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Just be aware with most trade jobs, you’ll have PLENTY of hours. Too many if you’re trying to spend time with your family and have time off during the holidays. And most likely will end up breaking your body down over time.
I’m not even 40 yet and have sciatica, bulging discs in my back, nerve pains, neck issues, feeling some arthritis sinking in too. Most trades will have you crawling on your knees or your shimmying on your back/stomach at least for the first few years while you’re learning. You will be someone’s bitch for a few years. You’ll be working in a hot attic in the summer, or in a wet crawlspace with insulation falling on you.
It’s not for everyone. If you do decide to do it, make as much money as you can, invest invest invest, and get out before you hurt yourself.
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While this is true to a point, at least with my locals contract, there’s no mandatory holidays or weekends, you always have the right to say no.
I stretch every day and try to keep my weight down. I can’t stop the decline, but I sure as hell can slow it down. The weed helps, fingers crossed they change their testing protocols so I don’t have to carry fake piss every day.
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Is 38 too old to pursue becoming an electrician or other trade? I’ve always wondered what life would have been like if somebody told me about the trades instead of preaching college to me.
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Hell no! I’ve worked with a handful of JWs who are in their early 60s and started within the last 10 years.
The best time to start was 20 years ago, the second best time is now. Just don’t go in with any illusions about the kind of work we do and you’ll be just fine.
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I agree with all the above about getting a trade, and Union even better. And if you have background experience that overlaps, even better! A year after getting my Journeyman ticket (3rd trade, 2nd ticket) I was set up as Foreman. Haven’t looked back. Now I work 7-8 months a year, don’t work winters, and making more than I ever have.
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Thanks, guys! Glad to hear it’s doable at my age. I’ll have to look more into it now…got laid off late last year. Might be the best time for a career change!
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Hate to burst your bubble here…
But you’ll have that just about anywhere. 
Unless you work from home! 
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Hey guys. I am a “poor boy” farmer. We have beef cows and sell the calves every year. My operation is very small. I grow most of my own food and medicine. I guess you would call me a subsitence farmer. Not a rancher. Think “ stoned Amish”. 
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Many states have reasonable or even free trade school. If yiu have any kind of disability the office or vocational rehabilitation can get you help with tuition at vocational school…sometimes even pay for shoes or tools as well.
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If trades suit someone, I say by hook or by crook, go for it.
Unions vary state to state, trade to trade, but by in large, the education pays for itself. I have to buy books and tools. The local pipe fitters get everything paid for, and I believe the plumbers even get paid to go to school, but I may be misremembering.
It is my duty to advocate for Union membership, so I am very biased. I recommend anybody curious does their own research.
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need to check whether or not you can solicit your own work. some unions did not allow that. for those you have to go to a hall and sign up on the work list. i forgot which ones allowed it but carpenters were allowed and so were boilermakers. it has been a while and they could have changed so the research is important for little tips like that.
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Electricians aren’t allowed to do side work. Most of them do anyway, but its mostly residential stuff for friends or friends of friends.
Everyone shits on residential work, but if you decide to go that route, when you get to the point of running your own work, and you have clientele, its incredibly easy and lucrative.
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i’m talking about traveling. when i was in, operators for sure can’t just follow shutdowns like boilermakers and carpenters can. unless it’s been changed in the last 20 years.
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Trades are a strong career path and definitely worth exploring, but I think it’s easy to underestimate the toll on your body.
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I think I’m learning this the hard way.
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Union Carpenter here.
I’ve been building bridges the last few years.
Not too much carpentry involved, but with per diem and the 80 hours a week during our short summers, it pays well.
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